The European People’s Party has informally backed José Manuel Barroso as its candidate for president of the European Commission next year.

Barroso was proposed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker for a second term at an EPP summit in Meise, outside Brussels. Javier Jiménez, a spokesman for the conservative grouping, said no formal decision had been taken and the issue would be discussed again in December. An EPP source said that there had been no opposition to nominating Barroso for a second term, although not all participants spoke on the issue.

The next president of the European Commission will be chosen next June, following the European Parliament elections. The choice should reflect the majority view of the newly elected European Parliament, which means in practice that two of the largest groups have to agree on a candidate.